Denise Rich

A Grammy-nominated songwriter fulfills her daughter's dying wish.

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"Beautiful, bright, and energetic" is how songwriter Denise Rich describes her late daughter, Gabrielle Rich Aouad. She had overcome Hodgkin's disease at age 24, but three years later was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia. This aggressive blood and bone marrow cancer sabotages healthy blood cell production and leaves the body powerless to fight infection. "Gabrielle got leukemia at 27," says Rich. "It went very quickly. She had a bone marrow transplant, for which I was the donor, but there were complications. It was horrible."

Before Aouad passed away, she asked her family to do something for her - she asked that they start a foundation to raise money for blood cancer research. "Her belief was that by funding research you could make a difference," says Rich. In 1998, Rich made her daughter's last wish a reality by creating the G&P Foundation (named for Gabrielle and her husband, Philip). Ten years later, the foundation is one of the largest nongovernmental sources of funding for blood cancer research. Says Rich, "It's incredible to work with my other beautiful daughters, Ilona and Daniella, [at the G&P Foundation]. Honoring Gabrielle's memory has been healing."

Everyday Health spoke with Rich about the G&P Foundation and its annual fund-raiser, the Angel Ball.

Everyday Health: It's been ten years since you created the G&P Foundation, and in that time you've given out more than $6 million in grants for research. What kind of progress can you see through your foundation's efforts?

Denise Rich: The money we give funds junior researchers that would not otherwise be supported. We help them get to the next level, when they often receive support from the National Institutes of Health. It's difficult to know what impact we've made, but we'll find out in the future because these scientists are the future.

We think we get a lot more bang for our buck by supporting new research. Look at the money that's been spent on research, and we still haven't found a cure for cancer. Young scientists have a very hard time breaking into the system, yet they are more needed than ever. You never know where the cure is going to come from.

Everyday Health: How do you choose research to fund?

Denise Rich: We have a medical advisory board of great doctors from all around the country. They decide which projects to fund based on what they think is going to be beneficial and productive. Our specific area of research is blood cancers, but we're also active in stem cell research.

We fund conventional as well as integrative research, though mostly conventional research because it's more likely to be translated into clinical trials. At the same time, we try to fund investigators whose research represents out-of-the-box thinking. I would say we've definitely been able to raise awareness and raise much-needed funds for blood cancer research.

Everyday Health: The foundation was Gabrielle's idea. How difficult was it to make her wish a reality?

Denise Rich: It was difficult starting a new foundation when there were so many others out there, but I believe very much that Gabrielle guided us all the way through with her energy and beliefs. We wanted her dreams to come true. When you lose someone so dear to you, turning that experience into something positive keeps her alive, and at the same time, she's helping others.

Everyday Health: When word got out that you were creating a foundation, did people come to work with you or did you have to do a lot of selling to get folks involved?

Denise Rich: We were blessed because we had Dr. Stephen Nimer - who helped Gabrielle at Sloan-Kettering - agree to head the medical board of the G&P Foundation. He helped create a really great medical advisory board.

At the same time, I called on a lot of my friends [to help raise money]. Patti LaBelle has been a performer at the Angel Ball, our annual fund-raiser, since the beginning. It's just been a huge success. People somehow identify with a young girl in her prime who died in the bloom of her youth. It seemed to be an inspiration to other people. We've had Milton Berle, Stevie Wonder, Les Moonves, Natalie Cole, and Placido Domingo. This year we have John Legend and Joss Stone.

Everyday Health: How has the G&P Foundation changed your life?

Denise Rich: I have a daily structure, but one thing often blends into another. I'll have meetings about the G&P Foundation, and then I'll have a songwriting session or a meeting with new artists, and it all kind of works together. Gabrielle always listened to music, even in treatment. Very often, the two things connect. I've written so many songs for Gabrielle, like "Love Is on the Way" [sung by Celine Dion] and "Remember" [sung by Marc Anthony].

Everyday Health: What is your personal advice for families dealing with a cancer diagnosis?

Denise Rich: Take a step back and breathe, then do as much research as you can. Don't be afraid to talk to people about it, because you never know who might be able to help. Be positive and don't blame yourself.

When you lose someone, it's very easy to get depressed and ask "Why did this happen to me?" In my family, we pray a lot. I believe in God and I believe that my daughter is on the other side helping us [with the G&P Foundation]. That's why the fund-raiser is called the Angel Ball - there's no doubt in my mind that she's an angel.

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